Thoughts, links, inside information and program previews from the host of Chicagoland's premier local-access political talk show.

Monday, July 04, 2005

Fireworks tonight: 6th CD candidate Pankau on TV

Jeff Berkowitz: … [Y]ou would make the allegation that the person is gay or is a lesbian—but then you would have to show that discrimination occurred because of that [sexual orientation] in the same way one would have to [show that discrimination occurred based] on race. I don’t see the difference.

Carole Pankau: [Long pause]. I do. [LOL] .**********************************************Happy 229th Birthday to America-- the Inspiration of the Free World. Celebrate the 4th with some fireworks on tonight’s 378th episode of “Public Affairs.”

Tonight’s City of Chicago edition of “Public Affairs,” features State Senator and 6th Cong. Dist. Primary Candidate Carole Pankau [R- 23rd Dist.] The show airs throughout the City of Chicago [in the regular “Public Affairs,” City of Chicago time slot] tonight at 8:30 pm on CANTV, Cable Ch. 21.

For more about the 6th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary, the 2006 general election in the 6th CD, [Located in both Cook and DuPage counties, the seat has been held for the last 31 years by Cong. Henry Hyde] and a partial transcript of the show, see here.An additional partial transcript of tonight's show with 6th CD candidate Pankau is included, below: ************************************Embryonic Stem Cell research:

Jeff Berkowitz:...You cannot get federal government subsidies to conduct embryonic stem cell research, [irrespective of] where you obtained the embryonic stem cells [except you can get federal subsidies if you are using one of the 20 to 60, or so, embryonic stem cell lines that were available for research prior to the President’s executive order]; assuming that I am right [as to the content of the law regarding federal subsidies] would that change your view, would you then support [Cong.] Mark Kirk’s bill that would allow the government to subsidize embryonic stem cell research, with the use of those [archived in vitro] embryos?

State Senator and 6th Cong. Dist. Republican Primary Candidate Carole Pankau: No, because I still believe there is enough of supply out there with the non-embryonic, that the research could go forward- and in a timely manner, also.

Gay rights legislation:

Berkowitz: …the issue of gay rights, which came before you as a state senator, SB3186, my understanding is that you opposed that, is that right? You opposed that legislation—

Carole Pankau: Which one is 3186?

Berkowitz: That is the legislation that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation with respect to housing, employment, credit and so forth.

Carole Pankau: I voted no on that.

Berkowitz: Now, would you be opposed to discrimination based on sexual orientation with respect to housing and employment or do you think people in this state ought to be able to discriminate on that basis, if they want to.

Carole Pankau: Well, I am not for discrimination [LOL].

Berkowitz: …So, you would like to prevent those people from discriminating [on the basis of sexual orientation], is that what you are saying?

Carole Pankau: Correct.

Berkowitz: You just don’t want to do it by legislation?

Carole Pankau: No. What I am saying is that the way the bill was put forward—it was going to be very difficult to enforce. How do you know that somebody is being discriminated against [based on sexual orientation]?

Berkowitz: Well, in the usual way. Somebody files a lawsuit. They bring a case [under SB3186]. If there is racial discrimination, people can allege it [race discrimination in employment, housing, etc]. But, then the other side can say. “Well, no, we weren’t discriminating based on race. We thought the person [the plaintiff in the race discrimination lawsuit] was incompetent, didn’t have the right qualifications, etc.” It goes to a court and a jury [or judge] decides it. Same thing with [a lawsuit based on allegations of discrimination based on sexual orientation].

Carole Pankau: Racial is one thing. You can usually tell by color of skin or some other indicators, but you can’t do that with sexual preference—

Berkowitz: But, you can tell somebody’s race—

Carole Pankau: How do I know what your sexual preference is?

Berkowitz: You don’t prove the case—You don’t prove the case on race based on the fact that somebody is black or Hispanic. You must show [as the plaintiff in the lawsuit] that that there was discrimination based on their color—so the color [of the plaintiff] is not the beginning and end of the case. You still have to do more [as the plaintiff]. Once you have made this allegation, you might have to say…you would make the allegation that the person is gay or is a lesbian—but then you would have to show that discrimination occurred because of that [sexual orientation] in the same way one would have to [show that discrimination occurred based] on race. I don’t see the difference.